TRAIN ticket inspectors could start issuing fines to motorists who use railway station car parks but don't travel on the train.
Parking fines just the ticket
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,12630193%255E2862,00.html
Ashley Gardiner, transport reporter
23mar05
TRAIN ticket inspectors could start issuing fines to motorists who use railway station car parks but don't travel on the train.
Connex employees already have the power to write parking fines, but the little-known law is under review to make sure future cases aren't thrown out of court.
Until the law is fixed, railway staff will tell the offending motorists to park elsewhere.
Money raised by fines will go into State Government coffers.
Connex spokesman Andrew Cassidy said railway station car parks were set aside for passengers.
"There are some circumstances where competing users can put added pressure on these car parks," he said.
Until the law is clarified, ticket inspectors will tell motorists, who will be asked to park elsewhere, that the parks are for train passengers. Connex maintains 156 car parks across Melbourne, a total of 30,000 spaces.
A spokeswoman for Transport Minister Peter Batchelor said inspectors have had the power to issue fines since 2003.
"Since then, however, a number of legal issues have been raised to do with the exercise of these powers," spokeswoman Kate Leonard said.
"In the meantime, members of the public are asked to respect the needs of public transport users."
Ms Leonard said motorists should abide by parking conditions and restrictions at metropolitan train stations.